We were able to attend a celebration recognizing the Mercy ship program that treats children with club feet. The "Ponseti" method is the gold standard for treating club feet. It consist of very minor surgery under local anaesthetic in which the Achilles tendon if cut so the foot can be positioned at a right angle to the leg. It is held in place by plaster casting while the tendon reattached itself. Later the child wears shoes connected with a brace. The whole treatment takes years, so it is crucial that local doctors can continue this treatment after the ship leaves the country.
This is a great example of the medical capacity building that takes place when the Mercy ship comes to a country.
We learned about the treatment and heard testimonies from parents about their children. As always there was lots of music and dancing.
Nick Veltjens trains local practitioners in club foot treatment.
Our friend Kalinda was demonstrating treatment techniques. Treatment can take up to six years using braces.
In most of Cameroon, people don't know that club foot can be treated and children can grow up to live normal lives. Now more children have real hope for the future.
Chuck
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